Portugal national team captain, Cristiano Ronaldo has named the very players he looked up to in Manchester United that helped shape his football career.

He also aimed a brutal dig at younger players at the club, saying they behave like 12-year-olds.

Ronaldo granted an explosive interview to ace British journalist, Piers Morgan where he discussed the happenings at Old Trafford.

Asked to speak about some of his younger team-mates at United, Ronaldo told Morgan: “I don’t think that word [respect] is the best one, they live in a different era.

“I can see with my kid, who is 12-years-old, the mentality is not the same.”

Speaking further, the Portuguese said that the players these days have everything very easily and do not suffer and for this reason, they do not care about anything.

“I remember when I was 18, 19, 20, I was always looking to see the best players – Ruud van Nistelrooy, Rio Ferdinand, Roy Keane, Ryan Giggs – this is why I have had the success I have had and the longevity, because I take care of my body, my mentality, my head, that’s because I saw those guys and learnt from them,” Ronaldo told Morgan.

Cristiano Ronaldo is currently with his Portuguese national teammates, alongside the likes of Bruno Fernandes and Diogo Dalot preparing for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Portugal will play Ghana a week today after their warm up game against Nigeria.

The 37-year-old will not be part of the friendly game against Nigeria on Thursday according to his national team coach, Fernando Santos.